The Three Oxonians

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1873. Excerpt: ... 195 CHAPTER VIII. A REMARKABLE ESSAY. "Tl VERYTHING depends, more or less, upon- a good beginning," observed Smitb, very truly. "Our first sentence should be trite and apposite. Who can think of something trite and apposite 1" "What do you say to a quotation V asked Salter. "Something like ' How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds makes ill deeds done,' for instance." "That will do beautifully for a start," said Haller. "We must spin it out, though," cried Hill. "Now, Punch, write this, 'With what truth--astonishing truth '--we must use adjectives to fill up--'might we observe of the illustrious subject of this essay '" 02 "That isn't full enough," interrupted Taylor--"say,'The quondam illustrious, but now, alas! sadly despised and universally under-estimated subject of the present essay.' Go on, Hill." "Got that, Punch?" asked Hill. "' Present essay,'" muttered Haller, writing fast. "Yes--go on, old man." " In the words of Shakespeare,' " continued Hill. "No--stop--that is too terse," cried Salter; "write, 'in the immortal words of that bard,' or rather 'of that swan, whose far-resounding notes have imparted such a glory to the banks of Avon.' Rather poetical that, I flatter myself." "Banks of Avon," said Haller. "Continue." "' How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds makes ill deeds done,'" continued Hill. "Now let somebody else have a turn." "Here is something from Lingard," said Smith, and he read out, "' Thomas Wolsey, a native of Ipswich, and a clergyman, had, by the interest of Sir John Nanfan, been appointed in the last reign one of the royal chaplains.'" "That will do beautifully," cried Hardman, "but we must connect it with the quotation. Now, Punch, write away. 'Had not Thomas Wolsey been born at Ipswich, and had he not become a clergyman,...